FREEPORT — Freeport did everything it had to do Friday night.

It got off to a fast start — an opening kickoff for a touchdown — then built a 19-0 lead in the second quarter against Summit Academy.

The Yellowjackets' most important goal was to win, which would guarantee the team the fourth and final WPIAL playoff berth out of the Allegheny Conference.

Freeport churned out 244 yards on 47 carries en route to a 25-15 victory over the Knights, giving the team its first playoff trip since 2005.

Freeport coach John Gaillot knows, though, that his team must perform at a higher level in next week's WPIALClass AA playoffs.

"We need to play better," said Gaillot. "It's not that we took (Summit Academy) lightly, but we have to finish"

Freeport (6-3, 6-3) was seemingly in control for most of the game, but it could not shake off the pesky Knights (2-7, 2-7).

Freeport's Tyler Collins took the opening kickoff 87 yards for a touchdown, then the Yellowjackets tacked on a pair of touchdowns in a 5:26 span.

A Darius Frantz hit on Knights quarterback Derrick Rawls forced a fumble in the end zone and Freeport's Matt Marshall pounced on the ball for a touchdown.

After a three-and-out for Summit Academy, the Yellowjackets went on an eight-play, 51-yard drive, which was capped by a Jake Campbell's 1-yard run with 5:03 left before halftime.

The Knights were limited to minus-1 yard at this point due to four Freeport sacks of Rawls.

The Knights, however, showed signs of life in their offense, mounting an impressive 11-play, 80-yard drive, culminated by a 24-yard pass to Bijon Marshall from Rawls with 44 seconds left in the half.

Freeport did run five plays for 29 yards, but Andrew Vidra's 50-yard field goal attempt in the closing seconds was wide right.

After Freeport forced a Knights punt to open the third quarter, the Yellowjackets sustained a long drive of their own.

Freeport used a 12-play, 62-yard drive — aided by an Andy Teorsky 19-yard run along the way — to take a seemingly commanding 25-7 lead when Campbell scored from five yards out with 2:09 left in the frame.

In another point of finishing, Freeport missed its second extra point after the drive and had misfired on a conversion pass earlier.

Summit Academy struck quickly, using just 1:57 to pull closer. Marshall used a reverse for a 19-yard gain, then closed out the five-play drive by shaking a tackle at the line of scrimmage and breaking away for a 46-yard touchdown with 12 seconds left.

"I give the kids the credit," said Summit Academy coach Steve Sherer. "They made a couple of mistakes and we came out at the half and said, 'Hey, look, you can play better. We have to tackle, keep on guys and make plays.

"We did a better job in the second half,"Sherer added.

Freeport looked to lock up the game, running off 11 plays on the ensuing possession, until a fumble on a first-and-goal at the SA 2 was recovered by Isaiah Davis to give the Knights possession with 6:29 remaining.

The Knights drove from their own 4 to the Freeport 27 — highlighted by a 38-yard halfback option from Kevin Goodman to Darnell Jenkins and a 21-yard keeper by Rawls on consecutive plays — but sack by Freeport's John Douglas forced another fumble from Rawls and Mike Trusik recovered to end the threat.

"On (that) drive, had we thrown the ball a little earlier, we might have scored," said Sherer. "We had a guy going in the end zone and (Blythe) made a nice play to get there in the end zone."

Again, the Yellowjackets tried to run out the clock by keeping the ball on the ground. But five plays later, Austin Shockey fumbled and, Davis made the recovery to give the Knights new life.

Two plays later, however, Rawls was intercepted by Collins and the Yellowjackets ran out the clock.

While the game may have been a bit sloppy for the Yellowjackets, Gaillot still relishes what his team was able to accomplish this season.

"I'm proud as can be for these kids for everything they've done," said Gaillot.

Notes: Teorsky led all rushers with 88 yards on 16 carries. The Yellowjackets spread the ball around as four rushers had at least 40 yards.